DIVE TIME
2/20/2008 11:42:08 AM by The Lindseys
We take you on a diving excursion to some of South Florida’s most celebrated artificial reefs to give you a first-hand account of what you can expect during your underwater adventure.
South Florida has some of the best dive sites in the world, with one of the few tropical reefs lying within sight of most of the Florida Keys. But if you’re looking for a dive worth bragging about, get ready to check out some of the most unique artificial reefs to be found anywhere, with sunken vessels dating from the 1500s to about 15 minutes ago — everything from assorted cars to stacks of airplanes, warships and even a pile of Army tanks waiting to be explored. Everyone knows about the Spirit of Miami, but here is a sampling of some other South Florida artificial reefs worth getting wet for.
PRINCESS ANNE REEF
The Princess Anne artificial reef began life as a 340-foot ferry. The ship became an artificial reef when it was sunk in 1993, settling 100 feet from the surface. However, while it is a relatively shallow wreck, the strong currents surrounding it make this a dive that is only suited for extremely well-trained and experienced divers. The wreck has been damaged by hurricanes over the past few years, with the hull now split open. It is a popular fishing spot, so, as always, be careful when surfacing and avoid becoming entangled in the snarled monofilament fishing line that covers the wreck.
TENNECO TOWERS
The Tenneco Towers reef consists of three decommissioned oil rigs that were sunk back in 1985 and are now teeming with sea life. The northernmost dive site for dive boats out of Miami, this is one of the most popular dive sites on the Southeast coast. Set at depths of 190-110 feet, what makes this site so popular is that the towers are home to several hundred species of fish and some of the nicest coral in South Florida. As you’d expect, where there are many little fish, there are also sharks and barracudas, so this is not a dive for the timid.
GUY HARVEY REEF
The Guy Harvey artificial reef is centered around a 185-foot freighter. In 1997, world-famous marine artist Guy Harvey joined forces with the Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo to bring the vessel from Port au Prince to Fort Lauderdale. After Harvey painted a seascape of sharks and gamefish on the ship, it was sunk in 140 feet of water just south of Hillsboro Inlet. The top deck is 110 feet below the surface, so only the most experienced divers need sign up for this adventure. It is also a very popular spot for anglers, with fishing boats anchored above almost all the time, so keep an eye out for lures zipping past.
DERM MODULES
There are many interesting man-made items used to create artificial reefs, but unlike old ships, oil rigs or even tanks, the “DERM Modules” were specifically built to be an artificial reef. Made of natural limestone rock, the modules are just 69 feet deep and an easy dive even for those new to scuba. Submerged for more than a decade now, the project was intended to repair a damaged reef, and has been a great success. A wide variety of sea life now call these modules home.
THE TACOMA
The Tacoma is a 165-foot freighter sunk in 2002. The wreck is in good condition and is still largely intact. Set in 125 feet of water, it is more popular with anglers than local divers, and is often teeming with all manner of fish. Keep an eye out for fishing lines and old line tangled on the wreck itself.
LAKELAND DEBRIS FIELD
Located just southeast of the Orion, the Lakeland is a 200-foot steel freighter that was sunk back in 1982 just to the southeast of an earlier artificial reef project, the Orion. Settled at a depth of 142 feet, this is an artificial reef that is off limits to most recreational divers, which is what makes it so popular with NITROX divers. The reef is teeming with deep-water sea life, including a family of huge groupers. As we’ve noted before, large amounts of fish typically also means large numbers of fishermen in boats on the surface, so keep an eye out for boats as you surface and be careful not to get tangled in the miles of twisted line snagged on the exterior of the wreck.
MYSTIC ISLE
The Mystic Isle is a 103-foot long passenger ferry built in 1942. By 1979 it was too old to continue serving as a ferry, so a new owner brought it to Fort Lauderdale for use as a fishing boat. Thirty-some years later, by now completely obsolete, the ship was sunk in 2002 in 185 feet of water off Miami Beach. It is in water too deep for all but the most experienced divers, but unlike most shipwrecks, the interior is accessible, making it a popular site for NITROX divers.
THE ESMERELDA
When a killer hurricane ravaged South Florida in 1926, a ship named Esmeralda sank at Miami’s municipal dock near what is now Bicentennial Park. Despite heroic efforts to salvage the ship, the ship was doomed to remain beneath the surface. Two days after Christmas, the city of Miami ended up raising the abandoned wreck just long enough to tow it out to sea and sink it north of what is now Biscayne National Park. The ship is still in fairly good shape, despite being battered by years of subsequent hurricanes.
GOVERNOR’S RIVER WALK REEF
Governor’s River Walk Reef is a very popular dive site because it features four ships all in close proximity, plus jumbled lime rock corridors to explore. With all the nooks and crannies for sea life, this is a veritable fish factory, so there are often fishing boats anchored above. An added danger is the strong current that rips through the area. While the majority of the reef is only 90 feet below the surface, this is not a good choice for inexperienced divers. The ships were placed on the site in 2002, so they are still in fairly good condition. For strong divers, this is a site well worth the trip.
TANKS A LOT
Kids love playing army, but have you ever done it underwater? Back in 1994, two 40-ton Vietnam-era combat army tanks were set in about 50 feet of water off Miami Beach. They’re now part of a shallow artificial reef site strewn with limestone boulders known locally as the Wreck Trek. The artificial reef Mathew Lawrence wreck sits close enough to the tanks that you can see both on the same dive. These two reefs are home to a rainbow of tropical fish, lobster and more than a few moray eels. The eels have also set up home inside the tanks, so be careful not to stick your hand into any dark spots or you could lose a finger or two. There’s danger outside, too, with barracuda often hovering above the gun turrets, looking for unsuspecting small fish. There are plans to drop up to eight more tanks at the site, so it will just keep getting better. This spot is especially popular in lobster season, so get there early.